EU Members To Have Legal Power to Block Russian Gas

EU member states have the legal power to individually block Russian gas imports as part of a provisional deal agreed by the bloc on Friday.

• Under the new deal, governments can temporarily limit bidding for capacity in grids and import terminals at entry points for natural gas and LNG from Russia and Belarus but have to consult the EC first as well as any neighboring countries that could be affected, incl. non-EU states such as UK and Norway.
• These measures must not disrupt the EU’s gas market, cross-border flows between EU countries, or undermine the bloc’s security of supply.
• Russian gas pipeline and LNG supplies to the EU are projected to fall to 40-45bcm by the end of this year, according to the EC.
• The deal must be formally approved by the EU Council and Parliament, which is expected to take place early next year.